June 6, 2005
New York Public Library
Just came across two wonderful photographs.
The New York Public Library, under construction, 1908:
Who here has read The Alienist, by Caleb Carr? I loved that book, and SO wanted to see New York at that period in time ... he made me feel like I could. Anyway, I would love to wear a long dress like the lady crossing the street at the bottom of the photo, and carry a parasol.
Hard to believe the NYPL wasn't always there. And those lions. Those lions definitely have something of eternity about them.
And here's the New York Public Library, on a snowy night in 1948:
Yep, I read Alienist, as well as the sequel. The books really capture something that might not be so much of the age as of our nostalgia for the age: fun to read.
Posted by: Linus at June 6, 2005 3:57 PMTotally fun. I especially loved the description of trying to cross the street at Union Square, and what a death trap it was. Who knew???
:)
Posted by: red at June 6, 2005 3:58 PMI love that building, especially the lions, and those are two great pictures. But you KNOW the NYPL will always immediately make me think of the opening of Ghostbusters.
"No human being would stack books like this!"
Posted by: Dave J at June 6, 2005 4:43 PMI've read both the Alienist and the sequel. Excellent, and they carried me into their time.
Posted by: Ted at June 6, 2005 6:55 PMI haven't read The Alienist.. but I love the photo of NYPL on a snowy nght in 1948.
"Anyway, I would love to wear a long dress like the lady crossing the street at the bottom of the photo, and carry a parasol."
And.. Why not???
Posted by: peteb at June 6, 2005 7:07 PMI think, if I recall correctly, someone in my class in high school dated Caleb Carr--back then, when she was 16 and he was in his 20s.
Irrevelant to how cool the book is. But just popped into my head.
Posted by: Anne at June 6, 2005 7:15 PMAnne - there was a crazy article about the house he designed in the NY Times recently. He sounds like a real nut - kind of tortured, actually.
Posted by: red at June 6, 2005 7:19 PMYeah, I could totally see that.
Posted by: Anne at June 6, 2005 7:28 PMpeteb: Exactly. And why not??
There's a reason my blog is decorated with Gibson Girls. I missed my era.
Posted by: red at June 6, 2005 7:46 PMI love the way Carr can evoke a convincing sense of being there. I'd really like to read that book again.
Posted by: Chai-rista at June 6, 2005 7:52 PM'bout time you had a themed gathering then, Sheila.
Posted by: peteb at June 6, 2005 8:15 PMChai-rista -
me too. I liked the first one better than the second one. I was hoping he would launch an entire series - a la Sherlock Holmes - with that same cast of characters. I am shocked (shocked!) a movie hasn't been made yet.
I SO want to play Sara. That was her name, right? What an awesome character.
Posted by: red at June 6, 2005 8:22 PMI liked The Alienist. Didn't care for the sequel so much.
Sheila, have you read Jack Finney's Time and Again? If not you really ought to take a look. I think you'd like it a lot.
Posted by: Laura (southernxyl) at June 6, 2005 8:35 PMAh, but how many people know the names of the lions?
And google is cheating.
Posted by: Mr. Lion at June 7, 2005 12:17 AMPatience and Fortitude!!
No, I didn't Google it. Terry spilled the beans in the D-day post below.
Posted by: red at June 7, 2005 12:19 AM